If one had to pick between pursuing passion and money in a career, with no possibility of a compromise, which should they choose? 

Imagine one’s job pays very little, but embodies something they are passionate about. This passion could be a burning desire to pursue their dreams, but it could also mean simply enjoying their work enough that they want to improve for their own satisfaction. On the other hand, another job pays a fair sum, but is not something they care about — it might even bore them. They are faced with the difficult task of picking between the two careers to pursue.

While many might value the idea of choosing a career based on how much compensation they receive, it can be argued that one should actually put more weight in where their passions lie.

Firstly, doing something one is passionate about is more fulfilling than doing something soley for the expected money. Many people work at least eight hours a day, and a lack of passion means that they are merely enduring a large portion of their waking hours. This results in a lack of drive and purpose, which can eventually lead to a drop in performance at work. Considering the kind of work environments that exist today, this sustained drop in performance may result in demotions or being laid off.

Thus, one loses the only thing they gained from their career — money. Many high-paying jobs involve increased pressure and scrutiny to consistently operate at high standards, which can result in burnout and may affect one’s mental health. With money being the only motivator, it can be difficult to keep doing well at work.

Working for passion, on the other hand, is immensely rewarding and has numerous positive impacts. Passion pushes one to be better in all aspects, from commitment to performance. Being truly dedicated to something would mean that progress and impact are more important than monetary compensation. For example, if one were incredibly passionate about developing cures for diseases, would it really matter if they were not paid an awful lot for bettering the world? No, and this kind of mindset can be applied to anything as long as one is passionate enough. Additionally, the time spent engaging in our passions contributes to lower stress and happiness, according to a study published in the Annals of Behavioral Medicine. 

While some might argue that making large amounts of money gives one time to pursue their passions outside of work, letting them enjoy the same benefits, in reality, that is not the case. Well-paid managers tend to spend 13.5 hours a day engaging with work, and are left with only about three hours on workdays for other activities, according to a study by the Center for Creative Leadership. 

Passions do not always look like an affinity towards a field like research or law. They can also look like passionately upholding certain values or performing duties one thinks are important, which factor into a career path. And of course, the ideal option would always be finding a compromise where one can pursue their passions in a way that serves them well financially. After all, after one retires, what are the odds that they would really be able to become a rock climbing instructor like they always wanted to?